the crybaby

there was a time

when the crybaby

beat fatso Bruno Mezzatesta

in a fistfight.

the victory was unexpected.

he was accused of being

a "scaredy-cat"

and Bruno paid the price

for his close association

with those who said so.

the place was a meadow,––

not the neighborhood meadow

adjacent to the Marconi Club,

but the meadow behind

the "Quequechan Housing Project" 

which we passed through

on our way home from school.

there were seven people

in attendance to witness

the fistfight, which to everyones  

chagrin turned out to be

more of a wrestling match.

but one late punch

to the back of his head

and fatso Bruno Mezzatesta

began his hasty retreat.

there’s an older snapshot 

taken at a family outing

where our young hero-to-be

is seen clutching a bag of

what appears to be

variety store popcorn,

rubbing his crybaby eyes

because he wanted potato chips instead. 

this final entry to the story is proffered

so that you are thoroughly informed.